MEET THE MAKER: GLO HILL
Trashtiques Tribe! Those of you who know me, already are well aware that I’m super nerdy and like history. In fact, the History channel is pretty much permanently on in our house, especially when Vikings is on. Because Ragnar. To fulfill my nerdy history mentality, I thought I’d start a new monthly post here, about some of the mid century makers and manufacturers that shaped the objects we love today. I hope you find their stories and styles just as fascinating as I do - and appreciate how the objects they produced they stood the test of time. So for December’s Meet the Maker, I’ve selected Canadian-made Glo Hill Gourmates - and all their incredibly gorgeous serving pieces - to showcase.
If you grew up in Canada, like we did, you’ve seen a few pieces of Glo-Hill in your lifetime. They usually made their appearance during the holidays, holding hors d’ouevres, cheese, pastries and other treats. Besides being a vessel for yummy goodies, they were hard to miss. Their multi-tiered chrome trays caught the reflection of the lights of the Christmas tree, and their bakelite handles reminded us of Grandma’s modern jewelry.
Glo-Hill was founded in 1945 by three Montreal brothers (Jack, Leo and Saul Globus) and their brother-in-law, Harry Hill. Initially, the brother’s main business was in the production of embossed brass picture frames. As the years went by, they expanded their craft into cutlery and carving sets, and then into chrome serving pieces.
At its zenith, Glo-Hill’s buzzing Montreal factory situation on the river Verdun, employed over 160 staff, and sold their impressive wares to the likes of the Montreal Canadiens hockey team, politicians and the rest of Canada via the Hudson’s Bay Company and Eaton’s, or direct purchase from their factory.
Sadly, Glo-Hill filed for bankruptcy in 1978, signalling an end to production entirely. But what we still admire today, is the durability of Glo-Hill pieces that has virtually made them indestructible. After 46 years, these pieces are almost impossible to break, chip, or dent. This speaks to the incredible craftsmanship that went into their creation. We also admire their classic mid century design that is borderline atomic - with their sleek clean lines, and space-age chrome construction. Personally, I’m always on the hunt for Glo-hill pieces to showcase in our Etsy shop - you can find a few of them at trashtiques.etsy.com. If there are any specific pieces your looking for, please drop me a line and I’ll begin the hunt!